If you are talking about the one with a "T" on it, like below pic, it is used with a tow cable as shown.



You need to replace them with standard "U"-shaped shackles to be used with a chain.

I’ve done this a few times and we removed the headlamps and the cables were attached at the lifting point behind them.

Check out this link for all sorts of tie-down instructions. It specifically shows how to tie-down an M60-series tank on the M747 trailer.

Gino, that is a brilliant resource. Is there any way for me to download it...

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I’ve done this a few times and we removed the headlamps and the cables were attached at the lifting point behind them.

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Yup, that is basically what the pic on page 55 at the link shows.

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Gino, that is a brilliant resource. Is there any way for me to download it...

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It should open as an on-line Word doc. In the upper right corner, there is an arrow with a line under it. That is the download button.

Hi Denis,

The T-shaped hooks that Tamiya moulded onto the lugs as parts B23 (front) and C1 (rear) are "speed" hooks for using the tow cables in the field. In the old days of the D-shaped shackle that Gino posted a pic of, hooking up the tow cables required somebody to unscrew the bolt that passes through the ends (and the lug!), remove the shackle, pass it through the loop on the end of the cable, then re-fit it so the tank can be pulled to safety. The bolt and shackle are heavy lumps of metal, and nothing spoils your day as fast as dropping them in the mud when trying to do the hook-up! The T-shaped hook replaced these shackles near the end of WW2 because the tow-cable loop could be slipped around the horns of the "T" for a very fast hook-up without unbolting anything, which is important if the enemy are still taking pot-shots at you!

The lug itself only has holes, so any type of shackle or hook can be put on as needed, or even removed to leave the lug "empty". (Tamiya moulded the hooks on because it's easier when trying to keep the total parts-count low...)

(And those D-shackles are still pretty common engineering equipment, as they do an excellent job. Just not so much on a tank in battle...)

Hope this helps!

From the diagrams in Ginos manual, it looks like single vehicles are snugged up to the gooseneck and chained at the front. Cant see chains on the back but maybe these draw vertically from load to trailer and so are hidden from side view?

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I’ve done this a few times and we removed the headlamps and the cables were attached at the lifting point behind them.

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Yup, that is basically what the pic on page 55 at the link shows.

Don't know why the original pic isn't showing, but it was not showing the vehicle tied down on a trialer. I was demonstrating the T-shaped "speed" hooks that Tom talked about above.

Edit: Found the pic that disappeared.